Cutter knife having micro-adjusting means



Sept. so, 1958 Filed July 15. 1954 w. c. SCHMIDT ET AL 2,854,045

CUTTER KNIFE HAVING MICRO-ADJUSTING MEANS s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORSWILLIAM C. SCHMIDT BYCLIFFORD J. PIGKENS,SR.

P 1958 w. c. SCHMIDT ETAL 2,854,045

CUTTER KNIFE HAVING MICRO-ADJUSTING MEANS Filed July 15, 1954 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS WILLIAM G. SGHMID WM- ATOR..

BYQLIFF'ORD J. PICKENS,SR.

p 1958 w; c. SCHM-IDT ET AL 2,854,045

CUTTER KNIFE HAVING MICRO-ADJUSTING MEANS Filed July 15, 1954 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS WILLIAM C. SCHMIDT CLIFFORD J. PIGKENS,SR.

United States Patent CUTTER KNIFE HAVING MICRO-ADJUSTING lVIEANS WilliamC. Schmidt, Indian Hill, and Clifford J. Pickens,

Sr., Cheviot, Ohio, assignors to The Cincinnati Butchers Supply Company,Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 15, 1954,Serial No. 443,626

8 Claims. (Cl. 146106) This invention relates to cutter knives, and moreparticularly to knives of the type used in commercial meat cutting,chopping and mixing machines.

An object of the invention is to provide interchangeable cutter knivesfor meat cutting machines, wherein the individual knives are adjustablymounted for radial movement relative to the knife carrying shaft bymeans of a radially shiftable intermediate member which interconnectsthe hub of a knife to a shaft-engaging spacer sleeve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a knife assembly which maybe associated with the cutter shaft of existing cutting machines. Inother words, the cutter knife assembly is adapted to replace existingknife assemblies, without requiring replacement or rebuilding of themachine or replacement of the knife-carrying shaft thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cutter knife assemblyhaving the hereinabove described characteristics and which includesmeans by which the individual knives are positively and securely thoughreleasably anchored relative to the knife carrying shaft whereby topreclude accidental or unintentional disengagement of a cutter knifefrom the shaft incident to operation of the machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cutter knife assemblywhich includes means for enabling an operator to easily and accuratelyeffect radial adjustment of the individual knives relative to theircommon supporting shaft by utilizing only a screw driver for turning theindexing member by which a knife is connected, through an intermediateelement, with a shaft-engaging sleeve.

These and other objects may be attained by the means described hereinand as disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an endview of a cutter shaftof a typical meat cutting machine provided. with aplurality of knives embodying the teachings of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the cutter assembly of Fig. 1 with parts cutaway to reveal certain structural details.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 but showing onlyknife P.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the knife after having beenradially shifted outwardly relative to the shaft.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an end view illustrating only one knife, embodying theteachings of the present invention, associated with a blade-carryingshaft showing the knife in fully advanced position in solid outline andin retracted position in broken outline.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating amodified form of blade adjusting means.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 illustrating the relationship ofparts after the knife has been radially shifted outwardly relative tothe shaft.

Commercial meat cutting, chopping and mixing machines are quite old inthe art, as evidenced by the ice 2 Van Hooydonk United States Patent No.1,980,304. Cutter knives for such machines are likewise Well known, asevidenced by the United States Patents to Gabriel No. 2,081,807; StockNo. 2,149,193, and W. C. Schmidt No..2,635,663.

The present invention is primarily directed to a cutter knife which maybe adjusted relative to its supporting shaft and then retainedinadjusted position while the other knives are being adjusted and whilethe knives are free from compressive axial forces. Heretofore the matterof individually adjusting a plurality of knives has presented quite atricky problem, since compressive axial forces were utilized to hold theblades in adjusted position as well as to hold the knives, per se, onthe shaft. The present invention provides simple yet highly effectivemeans for literally obtaining micro-adjustment of the individual knivesand of maintaining such adjustment while the individual blades areanchored to their supporting shaft by compressive axial forces.

With reference now to Figs. 1 and 6, the numeral 10 denotesdiagrammatically the contour of a rotatable bowllike trough in which theproducts to be cut by the knife assembly are disposed.

At the outset it should be understood that the present invention isneither directed to nor concerned with the particular type of trough 10nor with the means by which it is mounted, nor is the inventionconcerned with the structural details of the driving mechanism for theknifecarrying shaft 12.

As best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, each knife comprises a hub portion14 from which blades 16 and 18 diverge, hub 14 being provided with anopen ended,

radially extending slot 20 having side edges 211, and the axis of whichbisects the axes of blades 16 and 18.

In Fig. 1 the blades include leading, trailing and outer ends 22, 24 and26, respectively, which are suitably sharpened whereby to provide keencutting, edges.

Shaft 12 is provided with a plurality of sets of flats, each set ofwhich comprises and is defined by a pair of spaced parallel faces 28provided in opposite sides of the shaft, it being understood that oneset of flats is provided for each knife to be mounted on shaft 12. Theaxis of each pair of flats is disposed at an angle with reference to theother sets of flats for effecting a desired arrangement of blades withrespect to the shaft.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention hub 14 of each knifeincludes and is defined by a pair of flat and unobstructed side faces,one face of which is provided with one or more sockets 30 disposed inaxial alignment with slot 20 and beyond its closed end 21. The socketsmay, if desired, comprise a hole which extends completely through thehub between its opposite side faces, note Fig. 5.

A spacer element 40- is provided with a smooth axial bore 42 dimensionedto snugly though slidably engage shaft 12 one spacer element beingprovided for each of the knives, said spacers being located betweenadjacent knives, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

Each spacer element 40 comprises a body portion having flat andunobstructed, parallel side faces, one of which is provided with aradially extending open-ended slot or guideway 46.

An intermediate element or pin carrying member. 50 dimensioned toslidably engage the guideway 46 of a spacer element is provided withpins 52 which extend through slot 46 and beyond the side face ofthespacer element. Pins 52 are snugly receivable within sockets 3.0 ofknife-hub 14 for thereby securely though releasably anchoring a knifehub to an intermediate element.

An elongate indexing member 54 is rotatably mounted relative to a spacerelement and fixed against end'wise ax ial movement therewith by means ofan enlargedheaded portion 56 receivable in key-slot 58 provided in thespacer and in axial alignment with guideway 46. The body portion ofmember 54 is threaded whereby to engage and extend. entirely throughthreaded bore 55 of intermediate element 50. Suitable means such as, byway of example, a slot 59, may be provided in the free outer end of theindexing member for enabling an operator to turn it by means of a screwdriver, the blade of which is receivable in slot 59.

It will be noted that axial movement will be imparted to intermediateelement 50 incident to turning indexing member 54, and that movement ofthe intermediate element will be translated to movement of a knife hubaxially of its slot 20.

With reference now to Figs. 7-9, it will be noted that the knifeadjusting means is contained wholly within spacer element 70, which isprovided with a smooth axial bore 72 dimensioned to snugly thoughslidably engage shaft 12, and flat and unobstructed side faces 74.

A radially extending bore 76 is provided having a bottom or end wall 78,side Walls 80, and open at its upper or outer end. An elongate slot 82is provided in one of the axial faces 74 for slidably receiving pin 84secured to, carried by and projecting from follower nut 86 whichthreadably engages an elongate threaded indexing member 88rotatablymounted within the bore. The lower end of member 88 may terminate in acylindrical portion 90 of reduced diameter receivable in socket portion92. The upper end of member 88 may likewise terminate in a cylindricalportion 94 which is rotatably journaled in end plug 98 which threadablyengages the inner walls of the bore, as illustrated.

The outer end of cylindrical portion 94 may be provided with a slot 100dimensioned to receive the blade of a screw driver.

Pin 84 is receivable within socket 30 of a knife which will be shiftedtoward or away from the shaft 12 incident to turning of the indexingmember.

With reference now to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that theillustrated assembly includes five knives, the respective blades ofwhich have been designated by the letters P, Q, R, S, and T,respectively. Slot 20 of knife T is receivable over the rearmost set offlats for disposing the rear face of the knife in abutting relationshipwith boss 180 integral'with shaft 12. Knife S is separated from knife Tby means of a spacer element 40, said spacer element including anindexing member 54 as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that we have thus provided simpleyet highly effective means for not only effecting simple yet accurateradial adjustment of the individual knives with reference to shaft 12,but for likewise positively anchoring the individual knives relative tothe shaft for precluding their accidental or unintentional dislodgementfrom the assembly incident to rotation of the shaft.

The various adjacent faces of the knives and spacer elements are adaptedto be tightly axially compressed by means of nut 821 which threadablyengages the free outer end of shaft 12, for thereby retaining the knivesin adjusted position.

It should be understood that various changes in the structural detailsof the device may be made, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cutter knife assembly comprising the combination of a shaft, acutter knife having a hub provided with an open-ended shaft receptiveslot, and a solid portion opposite to said slot, a spacer element havinga shaft receptive aperture therein, and axial means secured to,

carried by and projecting from the spacer element interconnecting saidsolid portion of the knife hub to the spacer element, said axialinterconnecting means engaging the hub in alignment with and beyond theslot,

opposite to the open end of the latter, for securing the hub in adjustedposition relative to the shaft.

2. A cutter knife assembly comprising the combination of-a shaft havinga pair of parallel flats in opposite sides thereof, a cutter knifehaving a hub provided with an open ended slot dimensioned to receive theshaft between said flats, said hub having a solid portion opposite tothe slot and adjacent to the base of the latter, a spacer element havingan aperture therethrough dimensioned to receive the shaft, anintermediate element connected to the solid portion of the hub inalignment with and beyond the slot, opposite to the open end of thelatter, and means adjustably interconnecting the intermediate element tosaid spacer element to provide for shifting movement of the intermediateelement radially toward and from 'said shaft.

3. A cutter knife assembly comprising the combination of a shaft havinga plurality of sets of laterally spaced flats disposed in angularrelationship, a plurality of cutter knives each including hub portionshaving flat and unobstructed side faces and being provided with an openended slot dimensioned to receive the shaft between said flats, spacerelements each having flat and unobstructed side faces, one side face ofeach element provided with a radially extending open ended guideway,said spacer elements each having an aperture therethrough for snuglythrough slidably receiving the shaft, said spacer elements adapted to belocated between the hubs of adjacent knives, an intermediate element forand slidably engaging the guideway of each spacer element, meansinterconnecting each intermediate element to the hub of one of saidknives, in alignment with and beyond the slot, and opposite to the openend of the latter, and means adjustably interconnecting the intermediateelements to and for relative endwise movement relative to theirrespective spacer elements.

4. A cutter knife assembly comprising the combination of a shaft havinga pair of parallel flats in opposite sides thereof, a cutter knifeincluding a pair of divergent blades and a hub having flat andunobstructed side faces, and provided with an open ended radial slotdimensioned to receive the shaft between said flats, the slot having abase disposed at the junction of said blades, a spacer element includingflat and unobstructed side faces and having an aperture therethroughdimensioned to receive the shaft, an intermediate element slidablymounted radially of and in one face of the spacer element, meansanchoring the intermediate element to the knife hub at the bladejunction and outside the limits of the knife slot and its base, andmeans adjustably interconnecting the intermediate element to and forrelative radial movement with said spacer element.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the means for anchoring theintermediate elements to the knife hub comprises pins that span theadjacent faces of and whose opposite ends are located interiorly of saidintermediate elements and hub, respectively.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the means for adjustablyinterconnecting the intermediate element to and for relative radialmovement with the spacer element, comprises an elongate screw includingan inner headed end rotatably journalled in the spacer element againstendwise movement relative thereto and a threaded body portion whichextends through and engages a threaded bore in the intermediateelements, said body portion having a headless outer end off which theintermediate element is displaceable by rotating the screw.

7. A cutter knife assembly comprising the combination of a shaft havinga plurality of sets of laterally spaced flats disposed inangularrelationship, a plurality of cutter knives each including hubportions having flat and unobstructed side faces and being provided withan open ended, radially extending slot dimensioned to receive the shaftbetween said flats, spacer elements each having flat and unobstructedside faces, one side face of each element provided with a radiallyextending open ended guideway, said spacer elements each having anaperture therethrough for snugly though slidably receiving the shaft,said spacer elements adapted to be located between the hubs of adjacentknives, an intermediate element for and slidably engaging the guidewayof each spacer element, means interconnecting said intermediate elementto that portion of the hub of said knives which is in axial alignmentwith and spaced beyond the inner closed end of their respectiveshaft-receptive slots, and means adjustably interconnecting theintermediate elements to and for radial movement relative to theirrespective spacer elements for imparting radial movement of theirrespective knives relative to the shaft.

8. A cutter knife assembly for a cutting machine of the type whichincludes a knife-carrying shaft having a plurality of sets of laterallyspaced flats disposed in angular relationship, which assembly comprises,in combination, a plurality of cutter knives each including hub portionshaving flat and unobstructed side faces and being provided with an openended slot dimensioned to receive the shaft between said flats, andhaving at least one pinreceptive socket in one face of the hub beyondand in axial alignment with the slot, spacer elements each having flatand unobstructed side faces, one side face of each element provided witha radially extending open ended guideway, said spacer elements eachhaving an aperture axially therethrough for snugly though slideablyreceiving the shaft, said spacer elements adapted to be located betweenthe hubs of adjacent knives, an intermediate pin carrying element forand slidably engaging the guideway of each spacer element with its pinoutermost, said pin receivable within the socket of the knife hub forinterconnecting an intermediate element to the hub of a knife, and meansadjustably interconnecting the intermediate elements to and for radialmovement relative to their respective spacer elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,375,501 Ganzhorn Apr. 19, 1921 2,149,193 Stock Feb. 28, 1939 2,551,049Pinkers May 1, 1951 2,711,270 Gulbrandsen June 21, 1955 2,721,593Schaller Oct. 25, 1955 2,804,112 Schaller Aug. 27, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS594,588 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1947

